Board of Directors

Emily Hanson is a business development and communications executive with more than 25 years of leadership experience in municipal services, affordable housing, resource conservation, and community partnerships. She currently serves as Area Director, Municipal Sales for Republic Services.

Emily’s commitment to serving vulnerable populations began in childhood through volunteer work and has been strengthened by personal experiences that deepened her compassion for individuals and families facing hardship. After relocating to Contra Costa County, she sought opportunities to continue her community service and was drawn to Winter Nights’ mission of supporting families experiencing homelessness.

Emily joined the Winter Nights Board of Directors in 2024.

Catherine Mesgar is a corporate strategy and human resources leader with more than 20 years of experience leading strategic growth initiatives and building high-performing HR functions. She currently serves as Director of Compensation and Benefits for Central Garden & Pet.

Catherine became involved with Winter Nights through Lafayette Juniors. Having grown up in a tumultuous household and narrowly avoided homelessness herself as a young adult, she is deeply committed to helping families achieve housing stability and long-term security.

Outside of work, Catherine enjoys spending time with her husband, discovering great food and music, and caring for their two cats.

Ashley Day is an attorney with more than 25 years of experience in estate planning, probate, and business law. She currently works at an independent financial advisory firm, helping clients navigate estate planning and legacy decisions.

Ashley holds degrees from the University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara University School of Law, and Golden Gate University, where she earned an LL.M. in Taxation. She has served on the Winter Nights Board of Directors since December 2020 after first becoming involved through her daughter’s Girl Scout troop.

Outside of work, Ashley enjoys hiking, gardening, reading, traveling, and spending time with her husband, three children, and their dogs.

Liz Haughey has dedicated more than 30 years to nonprofit finance and community development. Her career began in Boston as an affordable housing lender and has evolved into her current work as a nonprofit finance consultant serving organizations throughout the Bay Area.

Liz has served on the Winter Nights Board of Directors for the past five years and has also provided bookkeeping services to the organization for the past four years. Her extensive financial expertise helps support Winter Nights’ long-term sustainability and stewardship of resources.

Raised in Saratoga, California, Liz now lives in San Francisco and is the proud mother of two adult sons.

Bruce Smith is a retired Episcopal priest who served as pastor of the Church of the Resurrection in Pleasant Hill for more than 30 years.

Bruce first became acquainted with Winter Nights in the early 2000s when Church of the Resurrection became one of the organization’s first host congregations. Through that experience, he developed a deep appreciation for Winter Nights’ mission and the impact it has on families experiencing homelessness.

Following his retirement, Bruce was invited to join the Winter Nights Board of Directors, where he has served since 2020. A lifelong Contra Costa County resident, he grew up in Lafayette and attended local schools there.

Lenita Wheeler is a nonprofit executive with more than 20 years of experience leading community-based programs, organizational operations, and strategic initiatives that improve quality of life for individuals and families. Her work has focused on expanding opportunities, strengthening communities, and helping people build stable, healthy, and fulfilling lives.

Prior to joining Winter Nights Family Shelter, Lenita held senior leadership roles with regional nonprofit organizations serving communities throughout Alameda, Santa Clara, and San Mateo counties. She has overseen multidisciplinary teams and service delivery systems supporting as many as 15,000 residents annually. Her experience includes organizational leadership, strategic planning, partnership development, program innovation, and team development.

As Executive Director, Lenita is committed to advancing Winter Nights’ mission of providing safe shelter, compassionate support, and pathways to stability for families experiencing homelessness in Contra Costa County. Her leadership is grounded in collaboration, equity, and a simple personal mission: helping people be, live, and work well.